Saturday, December 29, 2007

A sad situation

I just wanted to take a minute to say how sad the Herb Pope situation is. I can't say I have any clue what it is like where Herb is from, but from talking to a reporter who covered him in high school, he told me that as soon as Pope played his last game in high school, he wouldn't play another game until he was in the NBA. That is for a variety of reasons, but it is looking like that may be the case. I was told Pope had a plane ticket back to Las Cruces, so it's unfortunate that prior to coming back, this kind of thing happens. It's similar to when he was shot during an altercation the morning before he was supposed to travel for a tournament. The question now is what the university will do. Obviously the school let Tyrone Nelson play for far worse, and it's not like Pope is going to spend a day in prison, but do you feel he should be allowed on the court at NMSU given his background and his potential that could land him oversees or in the NBA as soon as next season should he choose that path.

26 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Once NMSU officials get both sides of the story, and assuming they deem the police report accurate, I'm afraid its time to sever our ties with Mr. Pope. It is a sad situation. From my very shallow perspective, the guy can't seem to catch a break. Well, on second thought, maybe he did - he could have killed himself or others last night. I wish him well.-Aggie Glare.

Herb Pope first gets shafted by the NCAA and is not able to play basketball because of one stupid class (not to mention he is a 3.0 student) and then made a bad decision. I understand it was a dumb decision but some of the blame should be placed on the NCAA, doesn't anyone else see that. We need Herb Pope and I hope Dr. Boston understands that.

Even if Herb Pope has NCAA Championship written all over him, I don't feel the risk to NMSU is worth it. Like it or not, the team represents us as fans and alumni and if Pope has to fight so hard to become academically eligible and stay out of trouble or keep from being shot, I don't feel that is the type of student athlete we need. Is he going to instantly turn around our season? No.

Anybody who gets arrested for DUI for the first time usually goes to court, pays a fine and probably gets probation without any jail time. What can I say, Herb is a typical teenager and went out drinking. Does that make him a bad person? NO Herb is not bad. He made a poor choice, is immature and maybe does not hang around with the peers who are looking out for his best interest. Also he is back at home and has way too much time on his hand. Can he be helped? Of course he can be helped. From previous article he did well academically the fall semester at NMSU. I don't know the bylaws at NMSU for offenses such as DUI whether he is out for a few games or the rest of the season. Me personally Herb has had to deal with many issues. Theus leaving, new coach, and then not elegible to play. I feel the young man deserves a chance. Suspend Herb a few games and show that you still believe in him. If he gets the ok to play with with the NCAA lawsuit, then let him play. I believe suspending him the remainder of the year would be devastating to him and he may give up all hope of playing.

You guys need to stop kissing Herbs butt.You act like trouble is just looking for this kid. He finds it on his own. He is very disrespectful towards adults. The coaches will due whatever possible to see to it that he is eligible. NMSU does not have special education classes. Who take s online classes in high school? For all we need did he really do the work or did someone else do it for him.

Just to be contray to stupid posts...Was Pope going to turn our season around and take us to the final four? Yes. Why, because I said so.

And anyone who thinks Pope is a bad influence on the "law abiding" NMSU students, must not read the paper. Presidents of frats constantly participate in the serving of alcohol to minors. Under age drinking is alive and well on campus. Don't be a knuckle head.

Man, a few of you talk about Herb Pope like he was a piece of meat, and his only value is that he can play basketball... That is part of the whole slam on college athletics, i.e. that the ones who provide the talent and entertainment (the athletes), don't benefit from what they provide. Sometimes this blog sounds just like the LC Sun News Sound Off; a lot of old bitties who have nothing better to do but complain. Maybe the best would be for NMSU to redshirt Herb this year (yes it is a risk) so that he can get himself straight as a student and get his priorities in order. We don't know yet how much of Herb's situation is because of his character or if he just made a bad decision, but is a good young man. Give him a chance to prove himself.

He's a stupid kid like many are. He's not the first athlete nor will he be the last to go out drinking. Its unfortunate he was behind a wheel but we can all feel fortunate that he was not moving, he was passed out so he didnt kill anyone.

This is a kid who needs a break. He comes from a tough background, he needs a team of good people supporting him to get him out of his current life situation. Everyone in life deserves a second chance. Everyone.

(Not that I want to change the subject, but I have no place else to ask). I saw that an assistant football coaches job is open at NMSU. Does anyone know who left (obviously not the DC, he's been replaced - who else?)

However, I have a problem when people get judgmental. We here in Las Cruces don’t have an inkling of the life Pope has led back in Pennsylvania. He didn't have the support system and guidance many of us have had in our youth. Can Coach Menzies, his peers, and his professors help this kid mature? I DON’T KNOW?

However, I hate to pull the plug on a kid's education just because he acted like a normal but immature teenager. It's not like he stole a pizza or something...

Stop making excuses for Herb. He isn't the only player that had to deal with Reggie leaving. Every one dealt with having a new coach. Those are poor excuses. He knows right from wrong and if he can't handle it at this level oh my gosh! The NBA level brings alot more challeges, pressure and decisions.

A lot of good points have been made. I say that he shouldn't play this year for a variety of reasons. Redshirt him and give him the opportunity to turn it around. My guess is that he will hit the road for Europe, but at least NMSU did the right thing. He talks the talk, but certainly hasn't walked the walk. If he was truly committed to NMSU, why wasn't he back in Cruces on the 26th?

A lot of kids leave before the final week of exams for many reasons. Most professors will allow the student to take an exam early in order to accommodate them. I know this to be true first hand with my own children. When we were stationed overseas and my son was coming home for christmas there was an $1100 difference in the airfare, from one week to the next so he asked each professor if he could take his tests early and all allowed him to do so. I also know that many exams now are taken online and they can take them within their own timeframe, so Pope leaving a week early is probably not a concern.

Pope isnt the only student or student athlete that drinks. Lets get real, go to any frat party, sorority party, after football game parties, campus parties, off campus parties....not condoning it just saying lets not condem this kid. He needs a break and if he doesnt get one he may end up in a body bag back home.

I don't see NMSU kicking Pope off the team. Remember our infamous 0-12 football seasons opener against UTEP? They let our starting center (Martinez, I think) play the game, but immediately following he was to report to jail to serve his sentence for a DUI. So if he can get a DUI and still be on a sports team, why not Pope? Nelson was kicked off because his case was classified a felony, but I think Pope's is a misdemeanor. Obviously, Martinez's history probably isn't a complicated as Popes, but can NMSU hold events that happened prior to his time at the university against Pope?

Maybe the best thing would just be to tell him "You're not playing basketball for us, at least for the remainder of this season. If you choose you can still attend school here." I don't know if he would take advantage of staying in college, but at least it would offer him a way to stay away from Pennsylvania, where it seems that there is alot more temptation.

Well, well, well...its seems Herb Pope, more like Herb Joke, has caused yet some more drama surrounding his yet to be seen career as an NMSU basketball player. Excuse after excuse has been said for this little punk, and I for one am sick and tired of it! First the shooting, then the grades (or lack there of) and now the UNDERAGE DUI! Give him another chance? NO WAY, three strikes and your out. He obviously does not take his basketball career serious or what the NMSU Basketball program SHOULD stand for! He just continues to make a mockery of this fast fading NMSU basketball program! Laters Herb "Joke" Pope!

This dude dont want an NMSU diploma and we should all be fine with that. The guy is here to play basketball. Nothing more.

So, lets get his ass on the basketball court. It adds a tremendous amount of value to all of our diplomas if herb and jahmar took us deep into the tournament.

I dont disagree the guy should take a page out of Denvis Manns book on how to deal a blessing of talent, but hey just win baby. I have said it many times on this board before... THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO ADD VALUE TO OUR DIPLOMAS THEN TO PUT A SUCCESSFUL MENS BASKETBALL OR FOOTBALL TEAM OUT THERE.

Like it or not... in the 90's Neil McCarthy got more NMSU grads jobs than did any finance or engineering professor ever did.

Before you condemn Pope, consider that he is from one of the most financially stresses communities in the country (because of the loss of the steel mills). also, his mom is a crack head (not trying to be funny here, his mother truly is addicted to crack cocaine) and his father, who has never been in his life, has been in and out of jail since the time he was 15.

Sure, Herb made a huge mistake (and has made more than a few) but before you go and drive through the ghetto that is Aliquippa, you have NO idea what Herb has had to endure.

"Like it or not... in the 90's Neil McCarthy got more NMSU grads jobs than did any finance or engineering professor ever did."

Wow. That is so wrong on so many levels. The only thing your post proves is that you are a world-class idiot. Keep up the good work.

I guess the "Free Herb Pope" T-shirts that everyone thought were awesome at the time, don't seem so cool now. At any other D1 school you would have a full blown investigation into all this Pope stuff. Too bad we don't have a real university here in Las Cruces.

I am just waiting for Boston to give Pope a scholarship "extension" in light of his recent "progress."

good post quiptown... most of these bloggers are probably middle to upperclass people who have nothing better to do than make blog posts on their new computers. the herb pope issue is more than basketball and more than acedemics. this type of problem stems from depression and a lack of guidence in a neglectfull society.